Fill in the Blanks is a nonprofit organization created to address the complete development of homeschooled gifted children. They offer workshops targeting students’ asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and moral compass. While achievement is expected, they do not define it by external performance alone. They recognize the internal abilities that make the external performance possible. Many gifted children have learning disabilities or sensory integration issues. At Fill in the Blanks, they recognize these hurdles and have designed their workshops to accommodate these students. They’re a place where gifted children can explore topics with one another or simply hang out for that much-recommended social time. They’re also a place that focuses on their children holistically; They believe that the entire child needs to be fed, not just the academic part. They offer workshops addressing all the needs of their students — to help keep them in balance. The academics are a part of their education, but so is exercise to feed the brain and the body. So are peer-presented workshops on what it means to be gifted to feed self-esteem. So are so many other areas that are often overlooked or neglected for gifted children.

On Earth Day, they’ll have one-hour workshops exclusively focused on the environment. Their guest instructors will be representatives from the American Chemical Society, the Sierra Club, and the Environmental Interpretive Center of Rochester Hills (they’ll be bringing live animals!). All these instructors, as well as their resident instructors, will be teaching in a fashion to accommodate all of their learners, all ages. So please come and see what Fill in the Blanks is all about by joining them for a day of fun and learning about Mother Earth. their first workshop begins at 9:30 and their last one ends at 4:00. Come as their guest for all day or come for a part of the day. Whatever works for your schedule.

Fill in the Blanks is located in Ferndale at the Zion Lutheran Church (right off of Woodward Avenue, south of Nine Mile Road), 143 Albany Street, Ferndale 48220. Everyone is invited to attend their workshops as their guests (i.e, no charge). Pack a lunch or purchase a lunch at Fill in the Blanks – just come prepared to learn something new and to have a great time with other gifted children. For more information, feel free to contact one of them — either Babette Hotchkiss (babettehotchkiss@yahoo.com) or Kathy Miller (antiquemills@wideopenwest.com).

Also, to help them with planning, if you even THINK you may drop by, PLEASE RSVP BEFORE TUESDAY, APRIL 21. They’d love to be sure they have enough materials for all who come. (But if you decide when you wake up on Wednesday morning you’d like come, please still come. Don’t let not RSVPing deter you from celebrating Earth Day with them.)

“WHAT’S A CLOTHES SWAP?”

This is a totally FREE event, with NO obligation to bring anything or take anything. It’s called a “swap” because so many people bring clothes they no longer need, and take what they DO want.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

At home, sort and fold CLEAN clothes (clothes you wouldn’t mind putting on your family to go out in public) by size into boxes or bags. THEN, when you get to the swap, sort the clothes by size onto marked tables. Next comes the fun part. Go to the tables with the size clothes you are looking for, and take what you need. Free of charge. No strings attached. There are no minimums or maximums.

Some families are looking to clean out the clothes they no longer use, and they bring boxes of clothes in, sometimes leaving with just one or two “special” things. Other families are really in need of clothes, and come with little or nothing, but leave with bags of clothes. Others bring what they took last season, for another family to take this time, and bring home another season’s worth themselves to start the process again.

THIS IS FOR INDIVIDUALS ONLY … NO charities, shelters, or resale.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

Look for clothes you might like to bring. Wash, fold, and sort them by size. Then call all your friends and family and ask them to do the same … and come alone or as a group to the swap! Clothes swapping is even more fun when you can share your great finds with friends.

WHAT SIZES?

All sizes of baby, kids, and adult clothing (including coats, shoes, and accessories). VERY lightly stained clothes are OK as some people don’t mind these for work or play, or are talented at removing stains. However, all clothing MUST BE CLEAN. Fabric and baby accessories are welcome.

WHEN & WHERE IS IT?
Thursday, April 16, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

The swap will be at Heritage Jr. High School, 37400 Dodge Park Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48312.
http://tinyurl.com/cchu4u

PLEASE NOTE: For safety reasons, please no kids on the stage. All children must be supervised.

Questions? swapclothes@gmail.com

Where at: Grace Chapel: 27996 Halsted, Farmington Hills, MI

Date and Time:
*Clothing swap: April 27th 7pm-9pm
*Drop off days:
Mondays: April 13th and 20th from 10:30am to 6:30pm
Or
Fridays: April 17th and 24th from 8:15 to 1:45pm.

How it works:
1. Come on Monday from any of the listed Mondays of Fridays and drop off your old or un-wanted clothes.
2. When you drop off your clothes in the clothing bin you will be given a ticket to come back on April 27th from 7pm-9pm to “shop”.
3. Come back on April 27th from 7pm-9pm and have fun!

(To drop off clothes you will see a clothing bin right inside the building, please drop off your clothes in the bin and take a ticket. Please save this ticket or else you will NOT be allowed to “shop”.)

Rules:
*Clothes must be clean and in good condition
*No bad language/bad images on clothes
*Must drop off some clothes in order to pick up clothes
*No immodest clothes
* It would be helpful if you left a note inside your bag of donated clothes with your first and last name.
**PLEASE INVITE OTHER HOME SCHOOL FAMILY OR FRIENDS! THIS IS A GIRL/GUY EVENT!

THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS!
Limited volunteer availability! If you would like to volunteer please contact Scarlett Strickland at: teenclothingswap@yahoo.com
Volunteers get to come and “shop” 30min early!

(PLEASE INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS THEY CAN NOT SAY HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS! MORE FRIENDS MEANS MORE CLOTHES!)
Also: All left over clothes will be donated to good cause!

Please feel free to pass this to any of your other groups.

Questions should be directed to Scarlett at teenclothingswap@yahoo.com

When you donate 2 toys at either Troy location, receive a Noodles & Company coupon!

Crooks & Big Beaver or Rochester Rd & South Blvd
248-879-9900

Read more at how can we notify Yahoo when a group has been abandoned.

Find Michigan Homeschool Support Groups listed By County or Multiple County. I am in the process of updating them, so please send me an email if you have a group not listed or your group’s info has changed.

Borders is rewarding their educators during Educator Appreciation Weekend: Friday, October 3rd-Sunday, October 5th. Current and retired educators, school administrators and staff, homeschoolers, fitness, music, cooking instructors and other community educators receive 25% off list price of books, CDs, DVDs, gifts and more during this celebration! Personal and classroom purchases are both eligible. Bring in proof of educator status. Log on to: www.borders.com/educators for more information!

Ask about special educator receptions on Friday night. Ask your local Borders about prizes, samplings and entertainment that evening.

Saving you money is what Borders Business and Educator Services is all about. Save 20% on single, qualifying purchases under $1,000 and 25% on single, qualifying purchases over $1,000. Contact me for details or visit us online at http://www.borders.com/online/store/GroupSavingsServicesView_gssoverview